CHARLOTTE — Airport workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport will strike Thursday morning, the start of Memorial Day travel.
This is scheduled to begin at 5:30 a.m. and will begin at the picket line set up between doors 3 and 4 on the CLT arrivals level.
Then, at 8 a.m., a second picket line will form at the corner of Wilkinson Boulevard and N. Josh Birmingham Parkway.
This will be followed by a rally and press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Wilkinson St. and N. Josh Birmingham Parkway.
The workers said they would demand that airlines commit to respecting, protecting and paying fair wages to airport service workers.
“Planes can't take off without us, but I have to work three jobs to support my family,” says Lisoli Gutierrez, an ABM cabin cleaner who cleans American Airlines' cabins. . “I leave early in the morning and return after the kids are in bed. I've missed birthdays and family celebrations because I work all the time. We contribute to the huge profits of the airline industry. We should be compensated for our hard work.”
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As another potentially record-breaking summer travel season approaches, employees at ABM and Jetstream, which serve American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, are sounding the alarm about a growing crisis inside airports.
“It doesn't matter who signs the paycheck, these companies are making billions of dollars because of us,” said Shonda, an American Airlines garbage truck driver and ABM driver. Barber says. “We're short-staffed because the pay and benefits aren't adequate for the work we do. We need to be compensated for what we're worth so we can keep experienced workers like me. This is a win-win situation for both workers and passengers.”
Airport staff say they make it possible for passengers to travel by keeping airports safe, clean and running, but despite their vital role in the profits enjoyed by airlines and large corporations, many airport service workers have to work two or even three jobs just to make ends meet.
They said they serve multibillion-dollar companies while working without health care, paid time off, or adequate workplace protections. Airport workers in Charlotte make just $14 an hour and have few, if any, benefits. Meanwhile, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Charlotte is $1,834 per month.
The workers, who have been fighting for good jobs since 2023, have made their voices heard and arrested in peaceful protests demanding safe working conditions in the intense heat and good jobs for all airport service workers. He said some people were also present.
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